Theory Use in African Library and Information Science Journals Indexed in Web of Science: Patterns, Depth of Application, and Influence on Citation Counts

This study investigates the use of theory in journal articles published in the three African Library and Information Science journals indexed in Web of Science—AJLAIS, SAJLIS, and SAJIM. In addition, the effect of theory use was examined on citations received by articles. Bibliometric data for articles published in the three journals between 2011 and 2020 were extracted from Web of Science. Full-text content was analyzed to evaluate both the depth and the frequency of theoretical engagement. Findings reveal that African Library and Information Science (LIS) scholarship employs theories less frequently than is typical in the global LIS literature. However, when theories are used, they are substantively integrated into research design, analysis, and interpretation rather than cited superficially. Uniquely and importantly, this study reveals that journal articles incorporating theory received significantly higher citation counts than non-theoretical papers. Statistical analysis confirms that this difference is significant, thereby contributing to the broader body of literature on the factors that determine scholarly visibility. The study recommends expanding the use of robust theoretical frameworks across diverse LIS topics to strengthen the intellectual depth, international visibility, and citation performance of African LIS research.